Chapter 11 (Multi. Choice)

22. Albert found a stone in his yard and took it to Bob, a jeweler, for evaluation. Although Bob knew what the stone was, he told Albert that he wasn't sure as to the nature of the stone, but that he thought it was a topaz. Bob then offered to buy the stone for $25 and Albert agreed. Later Albert found out the stone was an uncut diamond worth about $700. a. The sale was a valid contract that should be enforced by the law. b. This contract can be voided based upon fraud in the execution. c. This contract can be voided based upon fraud in the inducement. d. This contract can be voided based upon mistake as to the identity of the subject matter.

ANS: C PTS: 1

23. Fred is a concert violinist who is scheduled to perform at Carnegie Hall for the first time. He buys what he is told is a Stradivarius violin from a well-known, reputable dealer in quality violins, and he pays the going rate for a Stradivarius. He later learns the violin is an imitation, although it is such a good imitation that even the dealer thought it was authentic. a. Fred has made a unilateral mistake and cannot avoid the contract. b. The dealer has committed fraud in the inducement. c. The sale is voidable by the purchaser for mutual mistake. d. The sale is voidable, because the dealer has made a fraudulent misrepresentation.

ANS: C PTS: 1

27. Which of the following would be considered to be a misrepresentation of a material fact for purposes of establishing fraud in the inducement? a. A statement of judgment of value, such as "This is the best car in town for the money." b. "This style of jacket is going to be the most popular style next year." c. "This car has a new radiator." d. "In my opinion, this is the best buy for the money."

ANS: C PTS: 1

15. An intentional misrepresentation of a material fact made with knowledge of the falsity and intention to deceive and which a party justifiably relies upon to his detriment is known as: a. duress. b. fraud in the execution. c. fraud in the inducement. d. non-fraudulent misrepresentation.

ANS: C PTS: 1

16. A party to a contract may be able to avoid the contract if: a. there is a mutual mistake, and the party undertook to bear the risk by conscious allocation. b. there is a unilateral mistake, and the party undertook to bear the risk by conscious ignorance. c. there was a mistake and the mistaken party was at fault in not discovering the problem before making the contract. d. None of the above. e. Only (a) and (b).

ANS: C PTS: 1

18. If untrue, which of the following would probably be considered a misrepresentation of a material fact? a. "This is the one that I think is the best buy." b. "This is the best computer on the market." c. "This car has new brakes." d. "These tires will wear like iron."

ANS: C PTS: 1

29. Which of the following need NOT be proved in order to establish the defense of economic duress? a. That one side involuntarily accepted the terms of another. b. That circumstances permitted no other alternative. c. That one party explicitly made an economic threat. d. That the circumstances leading up to the contract were the result of coercive threats or acts of the opposite party.

ANS: C PTS: 1

7. Which of the following results in a void, rather than voidable, agreement? a. Duress by improper threat b. Fraud in the execution c. Fraud in the inducement d. Undue influence

ANS: B PTS: 1

2. Tommy's parents died in a plane crash and he went to live with his guardian, Aunt Rose. Rose had a very small house and did not have a separate bedroom and bath for 12-year-old Tommy. She and Tommy decided to use some of his inheritance to pay for an addition to the house. He had some shares of stock transferred into Rose's name so that she could sell them when the money was due to be paid. The stock transfers are: a. presumed voidable unless Rose can show no unfair advantage was taken. b. presumed valid unless it can be proven that Tommy was taken advantage of. c. null and void because of undue influence. d. presumed void because of duress.

ANS: A PTS: 1

20. Stewart entered into a contract with Will to have Will build a 10-unit apartment complex on Elm Street in Randolph County. Unknown to both parties, this land had recently been rezoned and only single-unit dwellings can be constructed. a. This is a mistake of law. b. This is a mutual mistake of fact. c. Stewart is obligated to buy land elsewhere and have the complex constructed on property zoned for apartments. d. Will is liable to Stewart since Will is a contractor.

ANS: A PTS: 1

24. Jill contracts to purchase Kevin's automobile under the belief that she can sell it at a profit to Linda, but after Jill has bought the car, she finds out that Linda isn't interested in buying it. a. Jill cannot void the contract. b. Jill can rescind the agreement. c. Jill could rescind the agreement if she was mistaken in her estimate of the value of the auto. d. Jill can sue Linda for detrimental reliance.

ANS: A PTS: 1

1. A collection agency threatened to sue Martha for the unpaid hospital bills from her heart operation. She signed a promissory note at a high but not illegal rate of interest. What result? a. It is valid because she signed it. b. It is valid because the threat to bring a civil suit to collect money owed is permissible. c. It is invalid because she signed under duress. d. It is invalid because the agency put her under undue pressure.

ANS: B PTS: 1

10. Tom tries to sell his classic car to Victoria for $12,000. Tom tells Victoria, "I paid $12,000 for the car in 1978 and it's worth twice that today." Tom really paid $8,000 for the car in 1978. If Victoria buys the car, basing her decision on Tom's statement, which of the following correctly states the situation? a. Tom's statements amount to puffing only. b. Tom's statements provide grounds to set the contract aside. c. Tom's statements are actionable only if intentional. d. Tom's statements amount to fraud in the execution.

ANS: B PTS: 1

11. Contracts induced by threats of ____ are voidable, regardless of whether the coerced party has committed an unlawful act. a. civil prosecution b. criminal prosecution c. tortious conduct d. physical force

ANS: B PTS: 1

12. A fiduciary is a: a. person in a subservient position. b. person who owes a duty of trust, confidence, and loyalty to another. c. form of formal conduct. d. person of equal power and control.

ANS: B PTS: 1

13. Kyle wants to buy a six-passenger car. The salesperson tells him that the two-seat sports car Kyle sees on the car lot would be just perfect for six people. Kyle test drives the car and then buys it. a. Kyle has a valid cause of action for fraud. b. Kyle was not justified in relying upon the salesperson's representation that the car would seat six people. c. The element of scienter is missing in this fact situation. d. The salesperson is a fiduciary.

ANS: B PTS: 1

17. Which of the following is NOT an element of fraud? a. Material misrepresentation b. Competent parties c. Knowledge of falsity d. Justifiable reliance

ANS: B PTS: 1

28. The State of Florida enters into a contract with Treasure Salvors governing the salvage of a Spanish galleon that sunk in the 1600's. Under the terms of the contract, the salvagers agree to relinquish 25% of the items recovered to the State of Florida in return for the right to salvage on state lands. At the time the parties enter into the contract, they both believe that the seabed where the ship lies is state land. Subsequently, the United States Supreme Court holds that the continental shelf on which the ship rests has never been owned by Florida. The salvagers sue to rescind the contract. a. The contract cannot be rescinded. b. The parties made a mutual mistake for which the contract should be avoided. c. There is a mutual mistake, but because it is not material, the court should enforce the contract. d. The United States government will automatically step into the shoes of the State of Florida to make the contract enforceable.

ANS: B PTS: 1

31. Actionable fraud would be likely to be based on falsity of: a. a car owner's statement that, "This car is the best buy you will find." b. a realtor's statement that, "The contractor used 25-year warranted shingles on the roof." c. an art dealer's statement that, "This painting will increase in value." d. a stockbroker's statement that, "This stock should double in price within six months."

ANS: B PTS: 1

4. James threatens to hit Kenneth on the head with a baseball bat unless Kenneth signs a contract agreeing to pay James $900 for a motor. Because of the threat, Kenneth signs the contract. a. This contract is voidable at Kenneth's option. b. James has committed physical duress against Kenneth. c. This is an example of economic duress. d. All of the above.

ANS: B PTS: 1

3. Eliza was an antique expert. She went to a tea party at Grandma Jones' house and saw a magnificent Queen Anne table out on the back porch. She asked Grandma about it and was told it was in the way so they were going to store it in the barn. Eliza offered to buy it from her for $200. The next week, Grandma saw it in Eliza's store on sale for $3,000. Which of the following is true? a. She can get it back because of fraudulent concealment of the value. b. She can get the true value, because it would not be fair otherwise. c. She cannot rescind the contract because Eliza did not have a duty to tell her the value of the table. d. She cannot rescind the contract because she did not rely on Eliza to give her a fair price.

ANS: C PTS: 1

5. Which of the following does not exemplify a relationship that typically leads to scrutiny of a contract for undue influence? a. Wife and husband b. Clergy and parishioner c. Brother and sister d. Parent and child

ANS: C PTS: 1

8. A contract was made for 125 bales of cotton to arrive on a ship named "Peerless" from Bombay. Unbeknownst to either party to the contract, there were two ships named "Peerless," both of which were sailing from Bombay. One sailed in October and the other in December. The buyer had in mind the ship sailing in October, but the seller had in mind the ship sailing in December. Each party held his belief in good faith. When the goods failed to arrive on time, the buyer sued for breach of contract. a. The seller is in breach and must pay damages. b. The seller is guilty of fraud in the inducement for failing to disclose to the buyer which ship would contain the goods. c. No contract exists due to mutual mistake of fact as to the existence or identity of the subject matter of the contract. d. Two of the above, (a) and (b).

ANS: C PTS: 1

9. Sam wants to sell his Golden Retriever to Jordan. Sam tells Jordan that the dog is three years old and that he will point, back, and retrieve. Although the dog is three years old and will point at birds, he will not back (honor another dog's point). Jordan relies on these statements and purchases the bird dog. The buyer has most probably been a victim of: a. duress. b. undue influence. c. fraud in the inducement. d. fraud in the execution.

ANS: C PTS: 1

14. When both parties misunderstand the same set of facts relating to a basic assumption on which a contract is made, it is termed: a. rescissionary mistake. b. unilateral mistake. c. mistake of law. d. mutual mistake.

ANS: D PTS: 1

19. A misrepresentation is material if: a. it would likely induce a reasonable person to enter into a transaction. b. the maker knows it would likely induce the other party to enter into the transaction. c. it is made knowingly. d. Both (a) and (b).

ANS: D PTS: 1

21. Steven has a typed copy of a contract, which he would like to have Thomas sign. Thomas, who needs glasses to read typing, doesn't want to sign until he has read the document, but Steven convinces Thomas to sign it anyway, because it is a "standard" contract for this type of situation. Is the contract which Thomas signed binding upon him? a. No, because he did not read it b. No, because he entered into it based upon fraud in the execution c. Yes, because he has made a unilateral mistake of law d. Yes, because he was negligent in not ascertaining its contents

ANS: D PTS: 1

25. Alex wants to submit a bid on a city sewer project. He computes the cost, but mistakenly omits the cost of one item. Accordingly, he submits a bid of $430,000 to the city. The next highest bid is $675,000, and the rest of the bids are even higher. The city is happy to have such a low bid, so it accepts Alex's bid and awards him the contract for the job, even though the city engineer is of the opinion the job cannot be done for less than $650,000. a. Alex must perform for the agreed upon price because he has made a unilateral mistake. b. The city was aware of or should have been aware of Alex's mistake. When it accepted the bid with knowledge of Alex's mistake, the city sought to take an unconscionable advantage of Alex's error. c. This case is an example of a palpable unilateral mistake. d. Both (b) and (c).

ANS: D PTS: 1

26. Ralph sold a motel to Steve by stating that he had paid $250,000 for it and that his net average annual profit from the business has been $40,000. In reality he paid $100,000 for the motel and has earned a net average annual profit of only $30,000. Steve made no attempt to verify the statements until after the transaction was completed. a. Ralph has committed fraudulent misrepresentation. b. Steve is bound by the contract, because he failed to verify the statements which were made to him. c. The contract is voidable at Steve's option. d. Both (a) and (c).

ANS: D PTS: 1

30. Which of the following can meet the scienter requirement to establish fraud in the inducement? a. Actual knowledge b. Lack of belief in the statement's truthfulness c. Reckless indifference as to a statement's truthfulness d. All of the above meet the requirement.

ANS: D PTS: 1

6. The remedies of damages and rescission are available for: a. fraudulent misrepresentation. b. negligent misrepresentation. c. innocent misrepresentation. d. All of the above.

ANS: D PTS: 1